Rizoli says he's focusing on one key issue

Jim Rizoli doesn't disagree when he hears he's only in the 6th Middlesex state representative race for one reason.

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 8, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2010 at 8:04 AM

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 8, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2010 at 8:04 AM

FRAMINGHAM

» Social News

Jim Rizoli doesn't disagree when he hears he's only in the 6th Middlesex state representative race for one reason.

"People say you're a one-issue candidate," he said during an editorial board meeting yesterday with Daily News editors. "Well, that one issue is destroying Framingham right now."

The 58-year-old activist says illegal immigration is a huge concern to him, as it affects schools, crime, health care and the town's infrastructure.

Rizoli said his position toward illegal immigrants is often misunderstood.

"I actually like them," he said. "I mean, you've really got to give them credit for what they've done."

But the fact is, "We're being robbed," he said.

If elected to replace two-term representative Pam Richardson in November, he plans to "defend law" and come down hard on people who are in the state illegally.

"I would implement exactly what Arizona is doing," he said, referring to the controversial bill lawmakers passed in April requiring police in the state to determine a person's immigration status if they have "reasonable suspicion."

Rizoli and his brother, Joe, co-founded and run a website called Concerned Citizens and Friends of Illegal Immigration Law Enforcement. They have come under fire for some of their views.

The Anti-Defamation League last year accused Rizoli of being an anti-Semite and Holocaust denier, and FPAC-TV booted his local cable TV show off the air earlier this year for pushing the limits of free speech.

Rizoli, who owns a carpet cleaning business, is a chairman of Town Meeting's Precinct 14.

Running as an independent, he is up against fellow independent Jim Pillsbury and Democrat Chris Walsh, who beat Richardson in last month's primary.

The district encompasses Town Meeting precincts 1-7, 9, 13, 14 and 17.

"I'm not happy with the town and the direction the town's going in, so I'm in the race because enough is enough," Rizoli said.

He said he's concerned about spending, and he supports cutting expenses over increasing revenue.

Rizoli said it's OK if his main focus is illegal immigration on Beacon Hill "because there's nobody representing that issue."

He also said he wants to go after blight, including the Nobscot shopping plaza, and said he has ideas for ways to make Framingham "a beautiful town."

"You have to be more vocal about it to get something done," he said. "Maybe we have to make laws about places that sit vacant."

Rizoli said many people who work in Framingham choose to live elsewhere.

"That's telling," he said.

He said people "can't revitalize Framingham if you have two things going on" downtown: the South Middlesex Opportunity Council and Salvation Army.

Page 2 of 2 - Rizoli said he isn't afraid to bring up "bad news" that other politicians don't like to talk about.

"I look at Framingham as the Titanic going down," he said, with illegal immigration as the iceberg.

"I'm the one," he said, "who's going to try to do something to make it better."